Palin Links Iraq to 9/11, A View Discarded by Bush  —  Gov. Sarah Palin linked the war in Iraq with the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, telling an Iraq-bound brigade of soldiers that included her son that they would “defend the innocent from the enemies who planned and carried out and rejoiced in the death of thousands of Americans.”

The Palin interview  —  It is embarrassing to have to spell this out, but for the record let me explain why Gov. Palin's answer to the “Bush Doctrine” question — the only part of the recent interview I have yet seen over here in China — implies a disqualifying lack of preparation for the job.

Obama Plans Sharper Tone as Party Frets  —  Senator Barack Obama will intensify his assault against Senator John McCain, with new television advertisements and more forceful attacks by the candidate and surrogates beginning Friday morning, as he confronts an invigorated Republican presidential ticket …

EXCERPTS: Charlie Gibson's Second Interview With Sarah Palin  —  Charlie Gibson Talks to the Republican VP Candidate Along the Trans-Alaska Pipeline … Watch Gibson's second of three interviews with Palin tonight on “Nightline” at 11:35 p.m. and much more on Friday on “Good Morning America” …

Battle for Congress Suddenly Looks Competitive  —  Democrats' double-digit lead on the “generic ballot” slips to 3 points  —  PRINCETON, NJ — A potential shift in fortunes for the Republicans in Congress is seen in the latest USA Today/Gallup survey, with the Democrats now leading …

Analysis: McCain's claims skirt facts, test voters  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The “Straight Talk Express” has detoured into doublespeak.  —  Republican presidential nominee John McCain, a self-proclaimed tell-it-like-it-is maverick, keeps saying his running mate, Sarah Palin …

The McCain Tax Increases—Continued  —  Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a former Director of the Congressional Budget Office and current chief McCain economic advisor, is an honest man—which means he's something of a liability on the Straight Talk Express.  A few months ago, he admitted to my colleague …

Belittling Palin?  —  A McCain-Palin TV ad accuses Obama of being “disrespectful” of Palin, but it distorts quotes to make the case.  —  The McCain-Palin campaign has released a new TV ad that distorts quotes from the Obama campaign.  It takes words out of context to make it sound as though the Democratic ticket is belittling Palin:

Hanging On to Biden's Every Word  —  Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Democratic vice-presidential candidate, is an experienced, serious and smart man.  But, boy, does he say some curious things.  A day on the campaign trail without a cringe-inducing gaffe is a rare blessing.  He has not been too blessed lately.

Blizzard of Lies  —  Did you hear about how Barack Obama wants to have sex education in kindergarten, and called Sarah Palin a pig?  Did you hear about how Ms. Palin told Congress, “Thanks, but no thanks” when it wanted to buy Alaska a Bridge to Nowhere?  —  These stories have two things in common …

Election 2008: Washington Presidential Election  —  McCain Closes to Within Two Points of Obama in Washington  —  Washington is the latest state to show a strong western surge for John McCain since he added Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to the Republican ticket.

Obama Leads In Foreign Policy, Bush Follows  —  In some ways, Obama has been a shadow president for a while.  Even JPod now concedes that Obama has been right about the terror war: … Ya think?  Radley Balko adds: … Yes, they should.  On one of the most critical decisions of the war …

Obama's Altitude Sickness  —  WASHINGTON — The Democrats are in a panic.  In a presidential race that is impossible to lose, they are behind.  Obama devotees are frantically giving advice.  Tom Friedman tells him to “start slamming down some phones.”  Camille Paglia suggests, “be boring!”